Getting to know Europe’s La Liga

They say love is in the air. Don’t know about that but it sure is easy to pick up all the excitement breezing past when we step into the football season each year.

While the seasoned football fans may know everything about the well-known English Premier League, few might be aware of its much older and stronger counterpart, La Liga. Also known as the Primera División, is the equivalent of the Premier League; the only difference is that it is Spain’s premier football competition instead of England’s.

The Spanish league works something like this; it is contested by 20 teams during the season that lasts from August through May. Every team gets to play twice with the other team, one game at home and one away from home. Once all the wins, draws and losses generate some points, the team with the highest points at the end of the season is ultimately crowned as the champions of Spain.

Now that you know what La Liga is and how it works, allow us to entertain you with some more interesting facts about it. Once we are done, you can officially declare yourself as a hardcore football fan. Here it goes:

The Winners:

Since 1929, La Liga has been contesting and crowning victors. However, teams those are worth mentioning for their amazing feats are Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid has won the La Liga title a total of 32-freaking times; can’t help but feel sorry for the rest of the competing teams. Second to them is Barcelona, who have won the title 14 times.

The Englishman:

It is quite ironic that with all the competition, fans often stem between the two leagues. It was actually an Englishman who debut in the Spain’s La Liga. It was, however, his first and last game, playing for Basque side, Real Sociedad. He was nearing 49 years of age when he played in the league.

The Strange Apodos:

It is very hard to understand the strange nicknames most of the La Liga teams have somehow attained. Evidently, Atlético Madrid is called mattress man because of their striped uniform which resembles a mattress’s prints. Espanyol are nicknamed perriquitos because of them once playing in a stadium where there were lots of cute birds and lots palm trees.

Top Players:

The 2016 La Liga has brought forth the rankings of the best players of the season. Let’s have a look at the top 10 scorers:

Luis Suárez (Barcelona)

Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Rubén Castro (Real Betis)

Nicola Sansone (Villarreal)

Gerard Moreno (Espanyol)

Willian José (Real Sociedad)

Neymar (Barcelona)

Duje Cop (Sporting Gijón)

Tana (Las Palmas)

The Premier League Vs The Primera División:

If you are ever feeling a bit evil and want to initiate a fight between football fans, then just ask them one simple question; which league is the best? Things can actually come to blows if it goes for a lot longer. However, the debate is pointless since UEFA have already rested the case by declaring the Spanish league to be the world’s best based on stats and awards that have been achieved by their teams in the last 5 years.

Now that you know every important thing you needed to know about La Liga, we are pretty sure you’ll be waiting for the season almost as eagerly as you do for the Premier League.